Hand repair tool for curved surfaces

Abstract

A hand tool (20) useful in the repair of bodies having complex, compound curved surfaces. The tool (20) comprises an adjustable arm (40) mountable at one of its ends to a damaged surface area (15). The other end of the arm (40) is provided with a gimbal mount (50) supporting a cutter assembly (45) and a gripping ball (60) for rotating the tool (20) during use. The gimbal mount (50) and a plurality of orthogonally disposed springs 190 provides a means to ensure that the cutter assembly (45) can follow the contour of the surface area 5 and will be substantially perpendicular to the surface area (15) as the tool (20) is being rotated. A guide (55) provides additional forces to urge the cutter assembly (45) into a position substantially perpendicular to the surface area (15).

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A tool useful in the repair of damaged areas of a complex, compound curved surface, said tool comprising: means for attaching the tool to said surface;   means carried by said attaching means capable of rotation with respect to said attaching means;   means carried by said rotatable means capable of pivoting with respect to said rotatable means;   an operating arm having one end carried by said pivotable means;   a fixed ring disposed at the other end of said arm;   an inner ring pivotable connected to said fixed ring;   a mounting tube pivotably connected to said inner ring;   a guide means carried by the lower portion of said tube and being capable of contacting said surface for biasing said cutter towards a position that is substantially perpendicular to said surface;   a cutter assembly slidably carried by said tube, and   means for urging said cutter assembly towards said surface.   
     
     
       2. The tool of claim 1, wherein said guide means comprises: a plurality of orthogonally disposed legs capable of contacting said surface, at least two of said legs being spring biased towards said surface.   
     
     
       3. The tool of claim 2, wherein said urging and biasing means comprises: a plurality of orthogonally disposed springs carried at one end by said cutter assembly and at another end by said fixed ring.   
     
     
       4. The tool of claim 3, further comprising: means for adjusting the position of said arm with respect to said pivotable means.   
     
     
       5. The tool of claim 4, further comprising: an elongated slot formed in said tube, and   a pin extending from said cutter assembly into said elongated slot, whereby in use, rotation of said cutter assembly with respect to said tube is prevented.   
     
     
       6. The tool of claim 5, wherein said attaching means comprises: a screw for threading into said surface,   a plurality of stabilizing legs capable of contacting said surface and being disposed proximate said screw, and   a plurality of oppositely disposed adjustment thumb screws for ensuring a positive contact with said surface.   
     
     
       7. The tool of claim 4, wherein said arm adjusting means comprises: a plurality of indentations disposed within said arm,   said arm being carried in a slot formed within said pivotable means, said arm being fixed by a plate affixed to said pivotable means;   said plate being provided with a hole capable of being in alignment with one of said indentations, and   a pin capable of insertion within said hole and said one indentation.   
     
     
       8. The tool of claim 7, further comprising: a manual gripping ball disposed at a distal end of said arm whereby the rotation and use of said tool is facilitated.   
     
     
       9. The tool of claim 2, wherein said spring biased legs are aligned with the longitudinal axis of said arm. 
     
     
       10. The tool of claim 8, wherein said spring biased legs are aligned with the longitudinal axis of said arm. 
     
     
       11. The tool of claim 6, wherein said arm adjusting means comprises: a plurality of indentations disposed within said arm,   said arm being carried in a recess formed within said pivotable means, said arm being fixed by a plate affixed to said pivotable means;   said plate being provided with a bore capable of being in alignment with one of said indentations, and   a pin capable of insertion within said bore and said one indentation.   
     
     
       12. The tool of claim 11, further comprising: a manual gripping ball disposed at a distal end of said arm whereby the rotation and use of said tool is facilitated.   
     
     
       13. The tool of claim 12, wherein said spring biased legs are aligned with the longitudinal axis of said arm.